Comparison of training horses with the way the Buddha trains his disciples:
1. Just as some horses think immediately of the task required of them at the sight
of the goad -- in the same way, a well trained person will be inspired to earnest
practice simply by hearing of a stranger who is suffering or dying;
2. Just as some horses need to be beaten by the goad before thinking of the task
required of them -- in the same way, a less well trained person may need to wait
until they see someone suffering or dying with their own eyes before being inspired
to earnest practice;
3. Just as some horses need to be cut to the flesh by the goad before thinking of
the task required of them -- in the same way, an even less well trained person may
need to wait until they hear of a relation who is suffering or dying before being
inspired to earnest practice, and;
4. Just as some horses need to be cut to the bone by the goad before thinking of
the task required of them -- in the same way, an even less well trained person may
need to wait until they themselves are afflicted by suffering or dying before being
inspired to earnest practice.